5 Oral Health Problems you Shouldn’t Ignore

You don’t need the perfectsmile to have healthy teeth. But truth be told, both the strength and appearance of your teeth determine your oral health. Surface-level issues like a crooked bite or bad breath typically signal deeper infirmities. So treat these issues directly before they turn into something worse.

Crooked Teeth

Left untreated, crooked teeth can:

Lead to improper chewing—which affects your nutrition, since you may not be digesting foods normally. Your teeth will also wear down faster than usual because they’re chewing on foods unnaturally.

Make it harder for you to brush. It’s harder to access the entire surface of each tooth when they’re facing the wrong way or, worse, scrunched together because of crowding.

Lead to more cavities and diseases like gingivitis. Since it’s harder to brush crooked teeth, you may develop even more health problems because of decay.

Be plain uncomfortable. Crooked teeth affect your jaw alignment and often cause pain. Because these teeth aren’t aligned properly, they put a strain on your facial muscles and give you a headache.

Undermine your confidence. As if the physical consequences weren’t enough, crooked teeth affect your appearance as well. A lot of people with crooked teeth are sensitive about their smiles and may not smile as often because of it.

In other words, crooked teeth have a much bigger say in your oral health than you’d expect.

The solution?

Visit with your orthodontist to get a professional opinion. If your teeth are crooked enough, you’ll need braces to shift them. But if your teeth are only slightly misaligned, you could get away with other treatments like Invisalign or a mouth guard. Either way, whether you live in Maple Valley or Maple Ridge, orthodontics can (literally) set things straight for you.

An Overbite or Underbite

In case you didn’t know, having an overbite means your top row of teeth naturally juts out farther than normal past your bottom teeth. Conversely, an underbite means your bottom teeth jut out past your front teeth. Either bite is a problem to your oral health and presents the same dangers as crooked teeth do. Misaligned bites are usually the result of:

Your mouth being too small for your jaw.

Sucking your thumb when you were younger.

Your genes (in other words, your teeth simply grew in this way).

You’ll need to visit your orthodontist to fix this problem. They’ll take X-rays of your mouth to determine how to treat it, but you’ll likely need braces and even—take a deep breath—head gear if the bite is severe enough. Experts like those at the Coquitlam Centre Dental Clinic provide these high-quality treatments that will lead to better oral health. No matter your treatment, the result is far worth the health price you’d pay without it.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is more than uncomfortable and deterring; it’s also a sign of poor oral health. If you struggle with it, evaluate your brushing routine. You should be brushing your tongue and all sides of your teeth; otherwise, bacteria lingers in those hidden places and leaves an odor. But if you’ve revamped your brushing routine and still suffer from bad breath, visit with your dentist. It may be a sign of gum disease, diabetes, or a similar illness.

Sensitive Teeth

If you have sensitive teeth, you’re not the only one. A lot of people experience tooth pain every time they bite into an ice cream or break off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar. But if Sensodyne isn’t helping you and you’ve ruled out grinding your teeth, visit your dentist. It may just mean that tooth decay is spreading deeper into your teeth and striking your nerves.Left untreated, sensitive teeth can lead to cavities or even a loss of your teeth altogether. So visit with your dentist about filling any cavities, switching toothpastes, and getting other treatments that will strengthen the enamel again.

Spots on Your Teeth

White (and sometimes brown) spots on your teeth are usually a warning sign of decay (and an eventual cavity). Bacteria in your mouth brings acid to your teeth and, without proper dental care, slowly breaks them down. Make a dental appointment if you have this symptom. The dentist will likely either fill your cavity or replace your tooth altogether, depending on how severe the damage is. In truth, dental problems affect more than our appearance and health. They have a significant influence on our confidence and comfort. So if you struggle with any of these issues, don’t hesitate to visit with your dentist or orthodontist. Investing a little time now can save you a lot of discomfort, self-doubt, and even money down the line.

This article is for educative purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

This post was written by a Guest Author. Please see their details in the post above. If you'd like to Contribute towards the growth of Healthable, please check our Contributor Page for details about how YOU can share your tips with our growing community.